More often than not, I can't find a named, non-popular app, even when searching for its exact name. The only way I can find it, is if they have a web-page and an direct link to their appstore entry on that web-page.
So ironically I have to search Google/DDG on the open web to find the apps I'm looking to install on my iPhone.
"Broken" doesn't fully convey just how mismanaged the AppStore is.
It's interesting that few people don't understand the difference between permission to distribute versus actual distribution.
If Apple was doing any distribution for you at all, you wouldn't need to pay Facebook and Google for distribution.
Note how this was different in the early days, where simply being on the app store would get downloads. That has not been true for 7-8 years now.
Not sure what distinction you're trying to draw here but in order for Apple to take their 30% cut, someone has to download the app, at which point Apple have de facto distributed it to someone.
> If Apple was doing any distribution for you at all, you wouldn't need to pay Facebook and Google for distribution.
This makes very little sense to me. Are you saying that if I pay Apple to distribute my app on the App Store then they should also distribute it on every app store? And that if they aren't then they're somehow failing me?
> Note how this was different in the early days, where simply being on the app store would get downloads. That has not been true for 7-8 years now.
The App Store is a shit-show in terms of discoverability, this is true. I'm not even sure what they can do to improve things at this stage.
Yes, I know, the web is free...and the App Store search is broken so discovery isn’t what it was... but still. Market access is VERY significant and worth something and the incremental cost to Apple has no bearing on what it is worth.
As discussed, prior mobile cuts were far more one sided. We payed the carrier 50% and then Qualcomm 20% of what was left. Bottom line, we walked away with 40% and we were happy.